Kurt Rosenwinkel

28 February 2010

Jazz guitarist and composer Kurt Rosenwinkel was in town this weekend to perform with the Free Bridge Quintet, the faculty jazz ensemble at the University of Virginia. I was lucky enough to photograph the pre-concert sound check, for the university's music department.

Kurt Rosenwinkel, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010. (All photos copyright John Edwin Mason, 2010. Click on any of the images to see larger versions.)

Rosenwinkel is first of all at fantastic guitar player. His improvisations are so beautifully melodic that it takes a while to notice his blazing technique. The guy's got serious chops.

Not surprisingly, he's performed and recorded with some of the greats of the jazz world -- Gary Burton, Paul Motian, the late Joe Henderson, Brad Mehldau, Brian Blades.... He's also released nine CDs of with his own groups.

Kurt Rosenwinkel, guitar, with Pete Spaar, bass, and Robert Jospe, drums, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

Turns out that Rosenwinkel is also a terrific composer. Most of the songs on the set list were his, and they had everything you'd want them to have -- memorable melodies, ingenious harmonies, and great grooves.

Pete Spaar, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

The nice thing about shooting a sound check is that you can to places that a strictly off-limits during the gig -- like on stage.

Bob Hallahan, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

My favorite place to shoot in Old Cabell Hall is on stage, looking out into the darkened auditorium.

Jeff Decker, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

That position makes for some dramatic possibilities.

John D'earth, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

Of course, there's nothing necessarily wrong about into the stage from the auditorium.

Jeff Decker, sax, and Pete Spaar, bass, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

Last evening's concert wouldn't have happened without the Free Bridge Quintet, of course. The group has been together for over a decade and goes from strength to strength. All of the quintet's members -- John D'earth, Jeff Decker, Bob Hallahan, Robert Jospe, and Pete Spaar -- have active careers as performers, band leaders, composers, and, Pete Spaar's case, bassist in two symphony orchestras. They have different interests and play in different styles, yet they come together, two or three times a year, to make some amazing music.

Kurt Rosenwinkel, guitar, and John D'earth, trumpet, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

John D'earth wasn't the only one who enjoyed Rosenwinkel's playing. He and the quintet earned not one, but two standing ovations.

The Free Bridge Quintet and Kurt Rosenwinkel, Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, 27 February 2010.

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I've photographed the Free Bridge Quintet many times over the last decade. You can see more Free Bridge photos, here.